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Kabiru Sokoto bags life imprisonment for terrorism

December 20, 2013 by PASCHAL IHUOMA

Kabiru Sokoto | credits: File copy

The Boko Haram kingpin, Kabiru Umar, alias Kabiru Sokoto, was on Friday sentenced to life imprisonment by an Abuja Federal High Court for his role in terrorist activities, including the December 25, 2011 bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State.

He was the governor of Sokoto State in the hierarchy of the Boko Haram group, according to evidence that emerged in the course of his trial, which lasted six months.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola found him guilty of facilitating terrorist activities in Sokoto State, and having prior knowledge of the bomb attack at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.

Kabiru Sokoto, who was finally apprehended by operatives of the State Security Service in the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja after escaping from the custody of police officers who initially arrested him, was arraigned by the Federal Government on April 19, 2013 on a two count charge bordering on terrorism.

In count one of the charge, the Federal Government informed the court that, between 2007 and 2012, the Boko Haram kingpin facilitated bomb attacks on the police headquarters in Sokoto State and some other government organisations in the state, an offence contrary to section 15(2) of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.

In count two, he was accused of having prior information of the bombing of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church but refused to disclose such to law enforcement officers, an offence contrary to section 7(1) of Terrorism and Prevention Act 2011.

Following Kabiru Sokoto’s claim that he does not understand English language, the trial had to be conducted with the aid of an interpreter, who translated exchanges in Hausa and English languages.

But evidence emerged in the course of the proceedings that the Boko Haram kingpin actually understood English language, having obtained four credits in the Senior School Certificate Examination which he wrote in English.

At a point in the trial, Kabiru Sokoto openly disagreed with the interpreter over the interpretation given to a statement he made in Hausa Language.

Kabiru Sokoto had denied the two-count charge during his arraignment, with his lawyers claiming that he was tortured before he made the confessional statement tendered as evidence by the prosecution, in which he owned up to the crimes.

The defence counsel, led by Adamu Ibrahim, also argued that the prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Chioma Onuegbu, did not prove the allegations made against the suspect.

Six prosecution witnesses, who testified against Kabiru Sokoto, insisted that he was guilty of the charge brought against him.

In the testimony he gave in his own defence, Kabiru Sokoto insisted on his innocence.

However, delivering judgment in the matter on Friday, Justice Ademola held that Sokoto’s confessional statement, in which he owned up to the crimes, was factual evidence.

“This court classifies the confessional statement as freely and voluntarily made by the accused person as recorded by the witness,” Justice Ademola said.

He went ahead to quote portions of the statement in which Kabiru Sokoto admitted his role in facilitating terrorist activities in Kano.

In the statement, Kabiru Sokoto had said, “Here in Abaji (a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory) nobody knows that I am a Boko Haram member. I have about 500 children that I teach as an Islamic instructor.

“Some of my members are in Mabira, Sokoto. I planted them to bomb the police headquarters in Sokoto and I purchased four AK 47 rifles with about 2000 live ammunition.”

Continuing, Justice Ademola noted that the statement was also corroborated by the account of one of the Boko Haram members arrested in Sokoto State, who informed SSS investigators that they were planted by Kabiru Sokoto, “who is the governor of Sokoto State in the hierarchy of Boko Haram.”

“This court finds as a fact that the accused person (SKabiru okoto) was the mastermind of the terrorist act in Mabira, Sokot State,” Justice Ademola said.

Also quoting part of Kabiru Sokoto’s confessional statement, Justice Ademola held that he was indeed guilty of having prior knowledge of the bomb attack on St. Theresa’s Catholic Church and refusing to disclose same to security agents.

Sokoto was quoted to have said in the statement that “The Madalla (St. Theresa’s Catholic Church) bombing was carried out by one Bashir Mohammed and other persons who I cannot remember or know their name but if their leader Suleiman is arrested, he will shed more light on the incident because I was not directly involved.”

Justice Ademola held that Kabiru Sokoto lied when he disowned the confessional statement attributed to him.

He noted that Sokoto’s false claim that he does not understand English was an indication of the fact that he lied to the court.

“This court finds that the accused person was economical with the truth right from the beginning of this trial when he claimed that he does not understand English language.

“A prosecution witness confirmed the accused person’s knowledge of English, as well as obtaining four credits in SSCE – and he wrote his examinations in English language.

“The accused person is not a credible witness; he is a pathological liar who has no respect for the truth.”

Concluding, the judge added, “The prosecution has proved it case and this court finds him guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly the accused person is as guilty as charged.”

Interestingly, just as Justice Ademola was about to pronounce sentence on Sokoto, his lawyers begged the judge to “temper justice with mercy” because the convict has aged parents, a wife and two kids to take care of.

The defence counsel equally urged the judge to have mercy on Sokoto because he has not had the opportunity to see his family since he was incarcerated about two years ago.

But Justice Ademola stressed that Kabiru Sokoto does not deserve mercy, having failed to show any form of remorse throughout the trial.

The judge also condemned Kabiru Sokoto’s claim that he does not understand English, a development which made the trial cumbersome as an interpreter had to translate every statement made in the course of the proceedings.

“If he can take us for six months translating when he actually understands, then you will understand what I am talking about,” the judge said, adding that the crime was even more condemnable because it occurred on a Christmas Day.

He therefore sentenced Kabiru Sokoto to life imprisonment on count one of the charge, in line with the provisions of section 15(2) of EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004, and 10 years imprisonment on count two, as stipulated by section 7(1) of Terrorism and Prevention Act, 2011.

Justice Ademola ordered that the two sentences will run consecutively, which meant that Kabiru Sokoto will serve the life sentence first, before serving the 10 years prison term.

The judge in the same vein urged the security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding Kabiru Sokoto’s arrest in the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.

According to Justice Ademola, “The police are yet to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the accused person in the Borno State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja – the seat of power.

“The members of the organisation (Boko Haram) have permeated all levels of government, the police have a duty to investigate and bring other persons involved to book.

“It is imperative that security forces finish off this investigation so that we can get to the root of this.”

The judgment held amid tight security at the Abuja FHC, and immediately after the proceedings, heavily armed SSS operatives whisked Kabiru Sokoto off to prison.

why waisting tax payers money to take of murderer in prison.he should be executed.

adebayo

This guy suppose to throw inside hot oil that is boiling at a temperature of 1200 degree centigrade than to give him life imprisonment.

naija guy

kudos to Justice Ademola Adeniyi. this will serve as a lesson for others

Omoba1

This is an interesting case and Justice Ademola has done his part. Meanwhile, I thought we shouldn’t waste our money again feeding this heartless, ruthless, senseless, and useless human being in the prison. Jungle Justice is better for him.

Victor717

Don’t we have death penalty in this country?

Charles

l wonder how he will serve life imprisonment first b4 serving 10yr jail ter.

otuonet otu

that is to say you are going to die in jail bro

Sagacity

That means when he dies in jail his dead body will be imprisoned for another 10 years before it will be released for burial or to his people

EMEKA

@victor717, don’t mind them oooo, if it is Igbo man; the Judges will give him or her death penalty….. One nigeria… are we one Nigeria??? Useless set of people.

DONALD

I am not pleased with this judgement. Kabiru Sokoto should be boiled alive for his atrocities.

Dobrah

my brother God will bless you for this comment

luwi

never mind i feel what you feel too he deserves death,, dont worry trust the nigerian prison officers, he would be so dealt with that he’d prefer death, he may even get poisined in jail with cheap rat poison, as he looks like a big rat

.

otitoju olu

i hope someday police/prison warders will not claim that he dressed up with hijab to escape from prison oooo.

BB

What is the difference between this mad guy and Jomathan’s Presidency? They are both the same.Corruption is worse than terrorism.They both kill innocent victims.If the government can prosecute and jail this mad guy,why can’t the same government sack MAMMIE WATER(Aviation minister) who’s already been recommended by the Reps to be sacked,prosecuted and if found guilty, jailed?????
This is a case of terrorists jailing terrorists.

Synario

Sorry, out of point. You must be Boko

BB

Ooh yeah?

Omotolaaraujo

Why does a terrorist receive a life sentence and not the death penalty? Nigerians should not have to support someone that participates in terrorism. He should receive the sentence that the people that were killed got.

SANGO AND OBATALA

What was he doing in Borno state government lodge? GEJ government is being sabotage because of his tribal affiliation. After the national conference, States will start managing their resources and leadership at federal level will become less attractive because is the root of all these sabotage… For those who think they can conquer / govern through gun,the world has gone beyond that….Once Nigeria is declared a no fly zone by Western Powers…everybody will remain calm in his or her section because any attempt to use force to bring people into this unsuccessful marriage again will receive Int’l condemnation and countries like, Isreal, USA, UK and FRANCE will come in to defend human dignity by waging war against the majority oppressors.. This is where the World is heading to…. Biafra failed because it did not get Int’l support and Western Powers were not aware of the atrocities committed by Nigerian government in Eastern Nigeria but now, information spreads like fire unlike then BBC were feeding other western powers like Italy/ Rome, Isreal and USA with lies that the war is friendly due to its support for the then Nigeria government but now… I pity anybody who thinks what happened in 1960 will happen again should the people of South South and their South East brothers or sister chose to opt out of this false marriage……

la

Buhhhhhhh……….. judiciary system of Nigeria …….. soon Jonathan will set him free again ……… What a country !

Samuel Omotu

You must be a fool by saying Jonathan will soon release him.

SANGO AND OBATALA

Tribal bigot always accused GEJ of being clueless and corrupt.. This is democracy where you have three arms of government: Executive, Judiciary and the Legislative… if the head of executive arm is clueless and corrupt that means members of the legislative arm and judiciary are also clueless and corrupt as well given that these three arms forms the government and should act as umpires against each other most especially against the executives… If the executive arm has corrupt tendencies, the legislative of which those who often criticize GEJ as the head of executive would have checkmated them but failing to do that means they are also clueless and guilty of what they accused the executives for.. Sanusi a nation’s CBN governor made a killing statement that huge amount of money was missing from the nation treasury which turned out to be false and nobody is calling for his removal because of the damaging false alarm but somebody in Census board made a statement that previous census were false and people from a particular tribe were calling for his head and the man resigned honorably…. Sanusi is part of the members involve in this government sabotaging GEJ…. His policies in CBN puts the nations economy in disadvantage position and he is doing this deliberately so that GEJ government will be condemned… This country must be restructured and be broken as the current cannot bring about progress and peace rather hatred/ bitterness, suspicion, corruption and unhealthy revelry… economic / political domination by one tribal over others.., Is now or never

Sango and Obatala

Tribal bigots always accused GEJ of being clueless and corrupt.. This is democracy where you have three arms of government: Executive, Judiciary and the Legislative… if the head of executive arm is clueless and corrupt that means members of the legislative arm and judiciary are also clueless and corrupt as well given that these three arms forms the government and should act as umpires against each other most especially against the executives… If the executive arm has corrupt tendencies, the legislative of which those who often criticize GEJ as the head of executive are majority would have checkmated the executive but failing to do so means they are also clueless and guilty of what they accused the executives of.. Sanusi a nation’s CBN governor made a killing statement that huge amount of money was missing from the nation’s treasury which turned out to be false and nobody is calling for his removal because of the damaging false alarm but somebody in Census board made a statement that previous census were false and people from a particular tribe were calling for his head and the man resigned honorably…. Sanusi is part of the members involve in this government sabotaging GEJ…. His policies in CBN puts the nation’s economy in disadvantage position and he is doing this deliberately so that GEJ government will be condemned… This country must be restructured and or be broken as the current structure cannot bring about progress and peace rather hatred/ bitterness, suspicion, corruption and unhealthy revelry… economic / political domination by one tribal over others.., Is now or never

Michael

How on earth, a lawyer defending the state be asking for mercy, for a terrorist that killed many Nigerians in their cold blood? For his lawyer, i agree. It’s his job. But for the government lawyer, something is fishing.

TOBBY777

That is ok. I would have been happier if the guy was sentenced to death. TODAY IS YESTERDAY`S TOMORROW.

If Buhari, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso or El-Rufai become president, they will grant Kabiru amnesty and their supporters would claim that GEJ freed Alams and Bode George. Hang this terrorist so that other would-be terrorists can see that there is no glory in killing for Allah. Recently some miscreants were sentenced in Indonesia for burning down a Buddhist temple.

otuonet otu

I believe you bro and there will make him their CSO and pay him with oil money

EMEKA

na so

WAW

JAMES

Soja

whisked off to prison. for how long? where they will come and bring him out now in the next say 2 months and killing more people in the process, I begi make we hear better matter. Boko haram is here to stay and the fearful thing is that our govt has got no clue as to what to do hence, helpless. All just because of selfish political power thirst of both the people in power and the ones in opposition.

EMEKA

if it is Igbo man; the Judges will give him or her death penalty….. One nigeria… are we one Nigeria??? Useless set of people.

metucellar

why life in prison, can’t they sentence him to death by hanging, because am afraid that if the an hausa fulani man becomes president tomorrow am sure they will release him or if an APC man becomes president in 2080 they will release, because they are murderals of christians, if they are sincere with these judgement they should send him to abakeleke prison.